Ban Kratom and 7-OH Products in McLennan County, Texas

I am asking McLennan County leaders to take action to protect our community by banning the sale of kratom and concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) products within our county.

These products can be purchased at smoke shops, convenience stores, gas stations, and online. That accessibility is one of the biggest reasons I believe we need to have this conversation. Something being available over the counter does not automatically mean that it is harmless or that people fully understand the risks before using it.

7-OH, or 7-hydroxymitragynine, is a compound associated with the kratom plant. While it occurs naturally in very small amounts, concentrated and enhanced 7-OH products can contain much higher levels and produce powerful opioid-like effects. These products have raised serious concerns about dependence, addiction, withdrawal, and overdose.

This issue became even more urgent following the recent deaths of two University of Mississippi students. Eighteen-year-old Aidan Hamilton and 20-year-old Robert Strang were found dead in separate locations on September 21, 2026. Law enforcement reported that packaged kratom purchased from a retail store was found during both investigations.

At this time, authorities have NOT determined that kratom or 7-OH caused their deaths. Toxicology testing is still underway, and I believe it is important that we do not make claims before those results are known. But the fact that the same type of readily available product was found during the investigations of two young people who died on the same day should be enough to make communities stop, ask questions, and take the potential risks seriously.

This isn’t the only reason I care about this issue.

I am in recovery myself.

I know firsthand how addiction can take over someone’s life. I also know that addiction doesn’t always begin with someone believing they are taking a dangerous drug. Sometimes it begins with something that seems harmless, legal, easy to purchase, or marketed as a safer alternative.

That is what scares me about seeing kratom and especially concentrated 7-OH products so easily accessible in our community.

I am not doing this because I want to judge or punish people struggling with substance use. It is actually the opposite. I want people protected. I want parents to know what their children may have access to. I want people in recovery to understand what these products can do before unknowingly putting their recovery at risk. And I want our community talking about this before another family has to experience a tragedy.

I understand there is debate surrounding traditional kratom and that some people report using it for pain or as an alternative to other substances. I respect that those experiences exist. But I also believe we cannot ignore the risks associated with kratom products or the growing availability of highly concentrated 7-OH products.

We should not have to wait until more people become addicted, hospitalized, or die before we take action.

I am asking McLennan County officials to pursue every lawful option available to prohibit or severely restrict the retail sale of kratom and concentrated 7-OH products in our community and to advocate for stronger protections at the state level wherever local authority is limited.

I’m asking our community to stand with me.

This is about prevention.

This is about awareness.

This is about recovery.

And most importantly, this is about protecting lives.

Please sign this petition and share it with your family and friends. The more people who speak up, the harder this issue becomes to ignore.